Man convicted and jailed for dealing with duty-not-paid cigarettes and possessing alternative smoking products for sale (with photo)
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During an anti-illicit cigarette operation conducted in a commercial building in Tsuen Wan on October 20, 2025, Customs officers intercepted a 40-year-old man who claimed to be a warehouse assistant for inspection and seized a total of about 980 000 illicit cigarettes and 620 000 alternative smoking products from his trolley and a unit inside the building. The total estimated market value was about $6.3 million, and the duty potential of the illicit cigarettes was about $3.2 million.
Customs welcomes the sentences. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.
Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.
Moreover, under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance, no person may promote, manufacture, sell, or possess for commercial purposes alternative smoking products. An offender is liable to a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Ends/Friday, January 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 15:12
Issued at HKT 15:12
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